The promise of mature gaming on the GameCube finally comes from a top quality release courtesy of Nintendo itself. Get ready to shoot, jump and puzzle your way through Metroid Prime, the creepiest, coolest GameCube game yet. As difficult to pigeonhole as its predecessors, Metroid Prime is not, despite what the first person viewpoint might suggest, just a shoot-'em-up. Containing as much platform jumping and puzzle solving as shooting, the game is more like an action-based version of Zelda than any one-note Doom clone. As usual the game stars bounty hunter Samus Aran (perhaps gaming's only female character that isn't scantily clad) in her ongoing battle to contain the freaky jellyfish-like metroids. To do this she must explore and search every nook and cranny of the game world, not just for ways to uncover the plot but for upgrades to her super-cool armoured battle suit. These range from obvious things such as new weapons and gadgets like an infra-red visor to a grappling hook and the hugely satisfying morph ball, which allows you to turn into a giant metal ball bearing and explore previously inaccessible areas. Apart from its uniquely involving gameplay Metroid Prime also features some of the best graphics ever seen on a home console. What's more, they aren't just used in a soulless technical demo; they're used to create a creepy and totally immersive atmosphere unrivalled by any other title. As an added bonus, Metroid Prime connects to the Game Boy Advance title Metroid Fusion to unlock a hidden costume and the complete version of the original Metroid game for the NES. All in all, this is likely to be one of the best games you'll find for some time. -- David Jenkins

Features:- Traverse a crippled spaceship and explore the vast worlds of Tallon IV in an all-new first-person perspective!- Take advantage of Samus's many powers using new suits that enable her to gain new abilities and revisit earlier worlds to uncover many hidden secrets.- Master Samus's combat, scan, and visors -- elements crucial to your success.- Explore each area to find many familiar weapons, such as the Wave Beam and Freeze Beam, and some all-new ones as well.